February 24, 2022 10:20 a.m.

Firefighter cancer protections have been expanded under action by the Oregon State Senate.

On Wednesday, the Oregon State Senate unanimously approved House Bill 4113. A release from the Oregon Senate Democrats said the measure adds bladder and female reproductive cancers as occupational diseases resulting from employment for qualifying career firefighters under Oregon’s worker’s compensation law. Cancer is a leading cause of firefighter death in the United States. The release said Oregon workers compensation law already protects career firefighters for many kinds of cancers, including male reproductive cancers.

Senator Kathleen Taylor of Portland said, “Firefighters don’t have a choice about what they are exposed to or which dangers they encounter on the job – when their community needs them, they answer the call”. Taylor is Chair of the Senate Committee on Labor and Business.

The release said House Bill 4113 adds bladder and female reproductive cancers to the list of cancers that are presumed compensable for qualifying career firefighters.

House Bill 4113 now goes to the Governor for her signature.